Secular changes in tooth size in Swedish men

Abstract

Tooth size in present-day material consisting of 123 randomly selected inductees aged 18—26 years in the west of Sweden was compared with that in skeletal material from men from the south-west of Sweden who had died during the year 1810 at 18—25 years of age.

Tooth-size in the present-day population was measured on casts and in the skeletal material directly on the teeth. The following variables were studied: mesio-distal and facio-lingual width of the crowns and in the skeletal material also the maximal length of the teeth and the height of the crowns. In the skeletal material occlusal attrition was also assessed according to a 4-grade scale.

The mesio-distal width and facio-lingual width of the teeth were greater in the present-day material than in the skeletal material and for most of the teeth the differences were significant. The occlusal attrition was distinct in the skeletal material and most pronounced in front teeth and first molars. The results show that secular changes have occurred in tooth size during the last 160 years.